Young guns star in well earned victory!

Sunday 22nd May saw Old Glossop 3rd XI host Charlesworth & Chisworth for our 2nd game of the season hoping to extend our unbeaten start.

Captain Paul Howbrook won the toss, elected to bat and sent out the opening partnership of Seth Hall and Tom Lane hoping for a good start and wasn’t disappointed (despite some early nervy moments due to risky running) as they laid the foundation for a great batting display. They frustrated the opening bowlers, putting on a solid 50 partnership in the first 10 overs before Tom lost his wicket, caught for a valuable 21. He was frustrated with himself but shouldn't be too down, it's all a learning curve, he played some lovely shots and helped get us off to a great start. Seth was then joined at the crease by Zaeem and both batted superbly to reach their half centuries. Seth has really stepped up with the bat this year and is revelling in his role of opener alongside Tom. He played some great shots, his favourite seeming to be the leg glance which he has got down to a fine art. He reached his maiden senior 50 in 64 balls, scoring 10 fours. Zaeem made a fine return to form with a classy 53 off 45 balls, scoring 10 fours and a beautifully timed 6. Dave Burdis joined the youngsters at the crease to add a valuable 19, hitting 3 fours and really enjoying his first start of the season. Next up was Joe Wild who did a great job of really pushing the innings on, making a quickfire 37 off 17 balls with some powerful strokes, scoring 6 fours and 1 huge 6. Ethan then joined the fray, adding 15, 2 fours and 1 six before the tail saw the 35 overs out, finishing on 225 for 5. It was a great batting display by the top and middle order, there were times last season we felt our batting let us down but the first 2 games have seen a real step forward, the youngsters showing great maturity to build their innings. After refreshments at tea and the chance for interested parties to find out what was going on in some football match somewhere, OG took to the field looking to build on their fine batting display. It has been decided that the youngsters are to be given more responsibility in the 3rds this year as regards field placing so Tom Lane was tasked with this, ably supported by the vastly experienced Dave. Ethan and Joe opened the bowling and kept things nice and tight early on restricting the opening pair to 16 runs in the first 6 overs. Ethan was first to strike in his fourth over trapping skipper Wrigley LBW for 2 runs, a valuable wicket. He struck 3 balls later in the same over, clean bowling the new batter. It was a tidy opening spell from both bowlers, restricting the opposition to 30 runs in the first 10 overs for the loss of two wickets. Next into the fray was Ben Howbrook who was rewarded with some fine work in midweek training by coming in at first bowling change. He is still relatively inexperienced at this level so it will take time to find consistency but he kept plugging away and got his wicket in the final over of his spell, bowling the dangerous Thorley who had batted well for 20. Ben had been joined by Seth who kept the run rate down with some fine spin bowling and was rewarded himself with a wicket, also in his final over, bowling Norris for 4. Next up were Zaeem and Tom Rigby who was making his first start of the season. Zaeem took a crucial wicket, bowling Gannon, out for 41. It was a fine innings from the opening batsman not only for his runs but his constant encouragement and cajoling of his young teammates. Riggers got in on the act with Tom Lane taking a catch behind off his bowling before Zaeem took another wicket to round off a great day for himself. By this time, big hitter Sam Gilham had taken his place at the crease and a series of devastating blows saw him race to 51 retired, hitting 5 fours and 4 sixes in the process. The innings was ended with a stumping by Tom Lane off Paul Howbrook’s bowling with the final ball, leaving Charlesworth & Chisworth on 147 for 7. It was a good, solid performance all round and leaves us sitting at the top of the table after the first two games. Long may that continue!